More than 150 years ago, on April 15, 1874, the first impressionist exhibition opened in Paris. "Hungry for independence," Monet, Renoir, Degas, Morisot, Pissarro, Sisley and Cézanne finally decided to free themselves from the rules by holding their own exhibition, outside official channels, and impressionism was born.

Keeping this historic date in mind, Alan Barnes fine art is delighted to welcome American impressionist John Modesitt to its Dallas studio for an exhibition now through August 8th.

Modesitt's paintings are easy on the eye, and viewers and collectors alike, gravitate towards the world from his perspective, revealing beauty and drama in everyday scenes. With a deep-rooted connection to his years studying the masters of Impressionism, John's coastal paintings demonstrate a profound grasp of light, color, and emotion, influenced by both artistic tradition and personal experiences.

Modesitt is one of the most versatile and well loved artists to have ever worked with Alan Barnes Fine Art, and we highly recommend these paintings to our new and seasoned collectors. The exhibition is available to view by appointment, Monday through Saturday. To schedule an appointment, email info@alanbarnesfineart.com or call 214.828.1311. To see more of Modesitt's work, visithttps://www.flipsnack.com/AlanBarnesFineArt/abfa-filpbook-uisv8f3tk5/full-view.html. For more information, http://www.alanbarnesfineart.com. 

Junior League of Dallas (JLD) awarded $40,000 in collegiate scholarships to 10 college-bound women from Dallas ISD during its 11^th annual Women LEAD Speech Competition and Awards Ceremony held Saturday, March 23 at JLD Headquarters. The top 10 ranked finalists were selected from a highly competitive set of 26 applicants from Emmett J. Conrad High School, Thomas Jefferson High School, and South Oak Cliff High School. Founded in 2013 by JLD, the Women LEAD (Learn. Excel. Achieve. Dream.) scholarship program was created to assist female high school students in pursuing their dreams of higher education and to create opportunities for future women leaders. Since the program began, the League has awarded 72 scholarships totaling $345,000 to female seniors from these three area high schools.

“The dedication, passion, and resilience demonstrated by these young women throughout the Women LEAD program have been inspiring,” said JLD President Christina Eubanks. “As they prepare to embark on their next chapter in higher education, we are filled with immense pride and optimism for what the future holds. These young women not only embody the values of leadership and excellence that we cherish but also remind us of the power of education and mentorship. The Junior League of Dallas is honored to have played a role in their journey and looks forward to witnessing their continued success and contributions to the community.” 

In October, Women LEAD Chair Cathryn McClellan and Signature Projects Vice President Emily Ronck and their committee held workshops at the three high schools to review the application and scholarship program. After the finalists were selected in early February, JLD members re-visited the schools to hold public speaking workshops. The committee scored applications based on the criteria of academic performance, resume, letters of recommendation, transcript, and an essay. 

The top 10 ranked applicants were invited to present their speeches on March 23 in front of this year's judges including: JLD President Christina Eubanks; Nordstrom Stylist Program Manager Jessica Tennison; and Senior Philanthropy Officer of Communities Foundation of Texas Ashley McIver. Former TV reporter and JLD Sustainer Calvert Collins-Bratton emceed the event. 

In the oratory competition, the students were given this prompt: In 2020, Team USA gymnast Simone Biles made the difficult decision to step away from gymnastics right before the women's all-around final in the Tokyo Olympics. She faced criticism for this decision but remained confident that she needed to step away to focus on her mental health. We've all had to make difficult decisions that others don't agree with. Tell us about a time when you made an unpopular choice that was in your best interest. 

In response, the audience and judges heard inspirational speeches from each of the top 10 finalists, including: Liliana Aguirre, Miranda Castillo, Genesis Stephanie Contreras, Anatupenda Daphrose, Lidiya Gebrehiwot, Amy Jeanette Lopez, Jazmin Martinez, Prava Pokhrel, Naimat Rabiu, and Tosminara Shamsuddin. Additionally, the students spoke about their passions and how receiving a Women LEAD scholarship will help them achieve their goals. Individual passions motivate these students to chase their dreams and turn them into a reality, and each of these young women hope to fulfill those dreams in a way that will make a positive impact on the world and inspire the people around them. 

Following the oratory competition, the judging panel tallied the votes and determined the winners based on the merits of their scholarship application and speech presentation. The winner of the $15,000 Women LEAD Scholarship Program was Naimat Rabiu. Second place winner Amy Lopez received a $10,000 scholarship; third place winner Anatupenda Daphrose received a $5,000 scholarship; fourth place winner Lidiya Gebrehiwot received a $3,000 scholarship; and fifth place winner Miranda Castillo received a $2,000 scholarship.  Honorable mention winners Liliana Aguirre, Genesis Stephanie Contreras, Jazmin Martinez, Prava Pokhrel, and Tosminara Shamsuddin each received a $1,000 scholarship. 

Skinny Leg Tribe is proud to support the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, through Life Is Why™, a cause marketing campaign benefiting the American Heart Association. Life Is Why inspires consumers to celebrate their reasons to live healthier, longer lives – by giving.

"Cardiovascular diseases claim the lives of 1 in 3 women, more than all cancers combined. I am extremely passionate about supporting cardiovascular research and creating awareness of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack or stroke among women. I lost my mother-in-law to a heart attack," said Skinny Leg Tribe Founder Kimberly Scott. "Our cherry red Vacilon over-the-knee style, debuting this month, offers the perfect opportunity for my company to support the American Heart Association's efforts to create awareness and change these statistics while creating a brighter future for all women."

From now through February 29, a portion of all online sales of the cherry red Vacilon boot through https://skinnylegtribe.com will provide shoppers the opportunity to donate quickly and efficiently to support the mission of the American Heart Association.  Funds raised will be contributed to the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women® program, which supports cardiovascular research and promotes women's heart health awareness during the month of February. Donations through the Life is Why campaign – no matter the amount – allow the Association to implement initiatives such as funding research that can improve the health outcomes of heart and stroke patients, training more than 2.5 million high school students in CPR annually, and supporting the work of local entrepreneurs and organizations working to improve health outcomes in under-resourced communities.

 To learn more about the Life is Why campaign and other participating companies, please visit heart.org.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. During 2024 - our Centennial year - we celebrate our rich 100-year history and accomplishments. As we forge ahead into our second century of bold discovery and impact our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.   

About Skinny Leg Tribe

Skinny Leg Tribe is a collection of luxury leather boots tailored to offer the perfect fit for petite women and women with slender calves. Even more notable, the Skinny Leg Tribe is on a mission to create a community of support for petite and slender-legged girls and women, regardless of their shape and size, while offering footwear that delivers the perfect fit, phenomenal comfort, timeless style, and luxurious quality. Skinny Leg Tribe sells luxury leather boots in US sizes 6 to 11. Calf sizes are 11.5, 12.5, 13.5, and 14 inches, and shin sizes measure 11.0, 12.0, 13.0 and 14.0 inches. Prices range from $795 –$995. For more information, visit the website.

The Junior League of Dallas will offer the Dallas community a chance to connect with various non-profit agencies the Junior League of Dallas supports at the annual Community Volunteer Fair Saturday, February 24, 2024, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at NorthPark Center, located at 8687 North Central Expressway. Attendees will be able to learn about volunteer opportunities during the Community Volunteer Fair, which is free and open to the public. 

The Junior League of Dallas cultivates women leaders who collectively address the critical needs of the community. Founded in 1922, JLD is one of the largest Junior Leagues in the world, as well as the largest and oldest training organization for women in Dallas. Active members range in age from 22 to 49 with approximately 85% percent of women employed outside of the home. The JLD provides leadership opportunities to nearly 4,000 women each year through more than 17,000 cumulative hours of experiential and formal training. Uniquely member-run, JLD provides approximately 100,000 hours in volunteer service and more than $1 million in funding to area nonprofits each year. For more information, please visit www.jldallas.org or Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. 

NorthPark Center is the preeminent shopping center in the Southwest and one of the finest finest shopping experiences in the world with more than 200 stores and restaurants, including more than 75 market exclusives. Anchored by Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Dillard’s, and Eataly, NorthPark offers an unparalleled collection of luxury boutiques set amid internationally acclaimed 20th and 21st century art, award-winning architecture, and extraordinary landscaping—as well as a 1.4-acre garden, CenterPark, and a state-of-the-art movie theatre, AMC NorthPark 15. NorthPark consistently ranks as one of the top five performing shopping centers in the United States and is North Texas’ number one visitor destination. NorthPark is conveniently located 7 miles from downtown Dallas and 35 miles from Fort Worth. northparkcenter.com, 214.363.7441, 8687 N. Central Expressway, Dallas, TX, 75225.